Central Ohio – Wildlife District One
State Wildlife Officer Austin Levering, assigned to Knox County, received multiple complaints of hunting without permission on city-owned property during October and November 2025. Officer Levering discovered two hunters and a vehicle parked at the location of the complaints and contacted the suspects. Further investigation revealed that multiple individuals were hunting white-tailed deer without permission within city limits. Officer Levering also found that an antlered deer was harvested without permission or a deer permit, and was not game checked in the Ohio Wildlife Licensing System. Three suspects were issued summonses for the violations and ordered to pay combined fees of $1,120 in Mt. Vernon Municipal Court, forfeit the antlered deer, and complete one year of probation.
In February, State Wildlife Officer Mark T. Williams Jr., assigned to Franklin County, and Wildlife Officer Supervisor Anthony Zerkle attended the Headhunter’s Banquet in Powell. Officer Williams delivered an address to more than 50 attendees that detailed the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s accomplishments in 2025 as well as the division’s goals in 2026.
Northwest Ohio – Wildlife District Two
During the spring 2025 wild turkey hunting season, State Wildlife Officer Mike Ohlrich, assigned to Lucas County, received a complaint of a person hunting turkeys with the aid of bait. Officer Ohlrich contacted the hunter and confirmed the individual baited turkeys with corn at several locations. Officer Ohlrich also learned the hunter shot a turkey earlier that day from a tree stand overlooking a corn feeder. He issued a summons for hunting wild turkeys with the use of bait. The suspect paid $250 in restitution to the Ohio Division of Wildlife and completed 10 hours of community service. As spring turkey season approaches, be sure to review the 2025-26 hunting and trapping regulations booklet.
State Wildlife Officers Evan Huegel and Nathan Kaufman, assigned to Ashland and Richland counties, respectively, as well as K-9 Officer May, attended a career day event at Crestview High School. During the event, students asked the officers about their daily duties, how technology plays a role in their work, the most difficult part of their job, and what they like the best. The officers noted that the students were interested in the career and there was a constant line at their table.
Northeast Ohio – Wildlife District Three
State Wildlife Officer Nick Turner, assigned to Harrison County, responded to a complaint during the 2025-26 white-tailed deer gun hunting season from a landowner who believed her house was shot by a deer hunter. During the investigation, Officer Turner determined the house had not been shot, but the hunter in question was hunting without permission using an unlawful implement. The suspect was issued summonses for hunting without permission, using an illegal firearm, and failing to wear hunter orange while deer gun hunting. The individual paid $700 in fines, and the deer was forfeited to the Ohio Division of Wildlife to be donated to the Harrison County Food Bank.
During the 2025-26 white-tailed deer hunting season, State Wildlife Officers Scott Cartwright, Michael Budd, and Zach Hillman, assigned to Carroll, Tuscarawas, and Summit counties, respectively, responded to a complaint of hunting without permission. Officer Hillman conducted aerial surveillance of the property and located the trespasser in a tree saddle. Officers Cartwright and Budd used electric APVs to quickly approach and contact the violator. The suspect was convicted in Carroll County Municipal Court and paid $495 in fines and court costs.
Southeast Ohio – Wildlife District Four
In late January, State Wildlife Officer Tyler Fields, assigned to Scioto County, and Wildlife Officer Supervisor Lee Van Allen conducted waterfowl enforcement on the Scioto River and Ohio River. They issued three summonses for hunting with an unplugged shotgun, one for hunting without a Federal Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp, and one for hunting without an Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp. Five suspects were found guilty in Portsmouth Municipal Court and paid a combined total of $1,040 in fines and court costs.
In January, State Wildlife Officer Ben Smith, assigned to Morgan County, responded to a private residence regarding a report of two birds that were unable to fly. A recent snowstorm had caused two horned grebes to land in a field. The grebes were covered in snow and ice. Once grounded, they could not take off from land. After consulting Officer Smith, the property owners caught the grebes and placed them in a heated water trough. Officer Smith found open water on the Muskingum River and released the unharmed grebes.
Southwest Ohio – Wildlife District Five
State Wildlife Officer Jacob Losekamp, assigned to Warren County, and Wildlife Officer Supervisor Brad Turner conducted fishing enforcement along the Great Miami River in Hamilton. They contacted an individual who was fishing and found the person had taken two softshell turtles out of season. Officers Turner and Losekamp explained that turtle season didn’t open until July 1. The officers discovered this was the third time this individual had been found in possession of turtles during the closed season. The suspect was issued two summonses for taking turtles in the closed season and paid $250 in fines, lost fishing privileges for six months, and will serve two years of probation. Officer Losekamp released the two softshell turtles back into the river.
State Wildlife Officers Gus Kiebel, assigned to Adams County, and Micah Collier, assigned to Brown County, assisted with instruction at a recent wild turkey hunting workshop offered by the Ohio Division of Wildlife. The class focused on preparation for a spring mentor hunt. Officers Kiebel and Collier helped teach how to safely and effectively hunt turkeys and they covered rules and regulations as well as hunting techniques.
